Sending love to Yeelirrie

Posted by Jessica Lawson on May 29, 2019

In a secretive and highly political move the Morrison Government approved the controversial Yeelirrie uranium project in WA’s Mid West despite an ongoing legal challenge by senior Tjiwarl Traditional Owners and conservationists. The approval was made despite the Federal Environment Minister last year committing to wait for the outcome of the legal proceedings in the Supreme Court, which are still ongoing.

Tjiwarl aunties, Lizzy & Shirley Wonyabong and Vicki Abdullah (pictured above) and the Conservation Council of WA (CCWA) are challenging the WA State Government and Canadian company, Cameco in the Supreme Court of WA, seeking to overturn the environmental approval for the uranium mine issued in the final days of the Barnett Government against the advice of the WA Environmental Protection Authority and the Minister’s own appeal decision.

The Nuclear-Free Collective at Friends of the Earth Melbourne recently held a letter writing and banner-making event to send love and solidarity to the Tjiwarl Traditional Owners, from the city to the western desert.

To help energise and support Traditional Owners that have opposed the Yeelirrie uranium mine for over 40 years please send your own letter, photograph, or card of solidarity to the Traditional Owners via email or mail and we will make sure they receive your message!

Friends of the Earth acknowledge that we meet and work on the land of the Wurundjeri people and that sovereignty of the land of the Kulin Nation were never ceded. We pay respect to their Elders, past and present, and acknowledge the pivotal role that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to play within the Australian community.